narrate

American  

[nar-eyt, na-reyt] / ˈnær eɪt, næˈreɪt /

verb (used with object)

narrated, narrating

1. to give an account or tell the story of (events, experiences, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   recite, detail

2. to add a spoken commentary to (a film, television program, etc.).

   The Oscar-winning actor recently produced and narrated a new documentary on climate change.

---

verb (used without object)

narrated, narrating

1. to relate or recount events, experiences, etc., in speech or writing.

narrate British  

/ nəˈreɪt /

verb

1. to tell (a story); relate

2. to speak in accompaniment of (a film, television programme, etc)

---

Related Words

See describe.

Other Word Forms

• misnarrate verb
• narratable adjective
• narrater noun
• narrator noun
• unnarratable adjective
• unnarrated adjective
• well-narrated adjective

Etymology

Origin of narrate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin narrātus (past participle of narrāre ”to relate, tell, say”), equivalent to nār(us) “knowing, acquainted with” (variant of gnārus; cognition ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Giroux said, It is an attempt to discipline public memory by intimidating those who refuse to narrate the nation as innocent.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

Veteran British actor Emma Thompson, who is set to narrate the audiobook in English, is one of numerous celebrity admirers.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

He and his colleagues track down film footage and photos, reach out to officials to verify what they’ve found and hammer out a script for Torres to narrate.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

Together the images in the book narrate rituals around death in Harlem during its heyday as the center of a renaissance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Without it, he hugged himself around the knees and let Isadora narrate him through a few more of the notes.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Related Words

• chronicle
• depict
• portray
• recite
• recount
• rehearse
• unfold